Legionnaires from both Preston and Harmony exit the Veterans Day program while retiring the colors. For more pictures see the photo gallery below. BRETTA GRABAU/BLUFF COUNTRY NEWSPAPER GROUP

Wednesday, November 19, 2014 9:14 AM

For hundreds of years, America has been thought of as the land of opportunity for millions of people to start their lives afresh in new ways. And the only way it has continued to be a land of opportunity has been through the blood, sweat, tears and even lives of hundreds of thousands of veterans.

More than 100 people gathered in Red Wing Saturday, Nov. 15, for a regional growth initiative organized by the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), which is offering $100,000 to help start multi-community projects.

The Fillmore County Board gained a new commissioner — Harry Root, who was sworn in Tuesday, Nov. 18 — and, as expected, is losing a commissioner — Tom Kaase, who turned in his resignation, effective Dec. 30, so he can assume the position of sheriff.

Separate requests for conditional use permits (CUPs) for the siting of a new Verizon cell phone tower and the creation of a family pond, both located in Fillmore County, will be addressed by the Fillmore County Board of Commissioners during a future board meeting. The date is yet to be determined, but may be in December.

The Mabel City Council discussed the city sewer project, community center maintenance, the demolition of a trailer now on city-owned property and approved other housekeeping items on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

Ukrainian foreign exchange student Khrystyna Kurylo thoroughly loves the English language and hopes to return home next summer with a more developed American accent. As she studies at Fillmore Central this year, being involved in extra curricular activities and through her classes and friendships, there is much to learn about the language and its characteristics.

For hundreds of years, America has been thought of as the land of opportunity for millions of people to start their lives afresh in new ways. And the only way it has continued to be a land of opportunity has been through the blood, sweat, tears and even lives of hundreds of thousands of veterans.

Major League Soccer announced that Minnesota will be the home of a new Major League Soccer team. The owners also announced they want to build a new open-air stadium for the team. Do you think it should be funded through public subsidies or privately funded?